US legislators to introduce new law to take on foreign hackers

Earlier this year, US president Barack Obama signed an executive order to strengthen the cybersecurity of the country

Three Members of the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee are planning to introduce a new law, which is aimed at curbing cyberattacks carried out by hackers supported by China, Russia and other countries.

Reuters reported that Mike Rogers, a Michigan Republican who chairs the House Intelligence Committee and leads cybersecurity efforts in Congress, is planning to introduce the bill together with Democratic Representative Tim Ryan of Ohio and Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

The bill will have provision to freeze assets owned by foreign hackers in the US and cancel visas for the hackers and families, according to Reuters.

According to Reuters, Rogers’ office said, "Cyber hackers from nation-states like China and Russia have been aggressively targeting U.S. markets, stealing valuable intellectual property, and then repurposing it and selling it as their own."

Last month, a report from the US Department of Defense (US DOD) has claimed that the Chinese government and military organisations have targeted US government computers to exfiltrate information.

However, China criticised the DOD by calling the report as groundless and said the US is the real hacking empire.

Earlier this year, security firm Mandiant said a secret military unit in Shanghai is linked to an attack on some American companies’ websites.

In February this year, US president, Barack Obama signed an executive order to strengthen the cybersecurity of the country to protect its critical infrastructure from cyber attacks.